BUSINESS tycoon Ratan Tata was set to appear today before an Indian parliamentary committee probing a multi-billion-dollar telecom licensing scam that has rocked the government.
Tata, chief of the Tata group, was slated to give “oral evidence” to the Public Accounts Committee over the allegedly fraudulent distribution of licences in 2008 to top telecom firms, a senior government official told reporters.
Billionaire Anil Ambani, who heads Reliance ADA Group, is due to appear before the committee tomorrow, a spokesman for the company told reporters.
Earlier, MK Sharma, joint director of the lower house of parliament’s press and public wing, had told reporters that both had appeared before the committee.
The hearings are being held behind closed doors.
Tata’s company, Tata Teleservices, was one of the victims of the opaque licensing process according to a police chargesheet, which claims that former telecom minister A Raja took bribes to favour other companies.
Police charged Raja with abuse of power and conspiracy on Saturday (April 2) over documented losses of $6.7bn (£4.15bn). The national auditor has said total losses could be up to $40bn (£24.78bn).
While neither Tata nor his company have been charged, three executives employed by a telecom unit of billionaire Ambani will face trial for their alleged role in the case.
The parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, a permanent body comprising lawmakers and retired judges, is leading one of a number of investigations into the scam, potentially the biggest in Indian history.
Under enormous pressure from the opposition, the government has also agreed to form a joint parliamentary committee of 30 politicians who will conduct their own probe.
A senior media adviser to Tata and a host of other companies, Niira Radia, was also appearing before the Public Accounts Committee today.
